NAF Trains Officers To Save Civilian Lives In Conflict Zones
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has stepped up efforts to safeguard civilians in conflict zones, completing the first phase of a new Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) training programme in Abuja.
The five-day course, which ended on 15 August at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre, brought together pilots, drone operators, armament specialists, legal officers and public relations experts reflecting a multi-disciplinary approach to embedding civilian protection in military operations.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, described the initiative as a “professional imperative,” noting that the NAF’s Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP), launched earlier this year, had already reduced collateral damage incidents.
“When communities see that we take extraordinary measures to keep them safe, we build trust. That trust is a force multiplier,” added Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet who represented the Director Civil-Military Relations at the closing ceremony.
The course, delivered in partnership with Conflict, Security and Development Consult Limited, covered International Humanitarian Law, rules of engagement, positive target identification, and advanced protocols for sensitive missions.
With two more batches of officers set to complete the programme by September, the NAF says civilian protection will remain central to all its operations across Nigeria.
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